Blending the seasons . . . to much . . .

I know the various stores are anxious about the economy but it is always so sad to see them rush the holidays ahead of time. It takes away the anticipation.

When I was growing up (just after the dinosaurs left the earth!), Christmas items started appearing in the stores a week after Thanksgiving. We didn't have time to lose the upcoming joy because of weeks and weeks of seeing Christmas products line the shelves right next to the day after sale on Halloween goodies.

I used to mark my childhood time by the store shelves. These days, the holidays practically pile on top of each other and blur our eagerness because we have already been watching the celebration wants and necessities gathering dust for weeks now.

Nothing much one can do about the current ways of the world at large. Guess I had better line up my New Year's champagne, cut out some Valentines, and get to hiding those Easter eggs. Time's a wasting!

Current quote . . .

"As an American I am not so shocked that Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize without any accomplishments to his name, but that America gave him the White House based on the same credentials." - - Newt Gingrich

My favorites . . . especially the last one . . .!

"It had only one fault. It was kind of lousy."
-- James Thurber

"My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people."
-- Orson Welles

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."
-- Thomas A. Edison

"Food is an important part of a balanced diet."
-- Fran Lebowitz

Good thought for All Saints' Day . . .

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps,
if you are not willing to move your feet!!!!

Democracy at work . . . NOT!

The health care reform debate goes on and on. The aspect that appalls me the most is the way House Speaker Pelosi has used the democratic system to her benefit in order to be elected to a position of power and now abuses that power to deprive the American people of their say in the rest of their lives.

All polls show that most Americans do not favor the system for health care proposed and strongly supported by Ms. Pelosi. She, however, disrespects the concerns of the people and calls the ones who actively use their American right insulting names because they dare oppose a losing proposition.

An independent poll, that favored neither Democrats nor Republicans, showed the cost would be horrendous and tax the American people into the next generations. Pelosi and her cronies do not care. They want what they want when they want it regardless of the people who made the mistake of electing her.

History in other countries has shown that government-run most anything but especially health care does not work to the advantage of the people it is supposed to care for. Yes, our country could use some kind of reform but the arrogance of these politicians to think they can rush such far-reaching legislation into being within a few short months is shocking and pretty scary! They hardly represent the people who have the vote.

It is like these politicians are playing a huge board game and are using us for the game pieces, moving us here and there regardless of the rules. They are fine with this because the health care system they want to burden us with, will not be the one they have to contend with in the future. Their health care plans will not change and will probably be covered by our taxes, too.

All too true . . .!

"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."
-- H. L. Mencken

"It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that."
-- G. H. Hardy

Still waiting . . .

Winter is taking it's time about descending upon sunny California this year, that's for sure! I want to go into pre-holiday baking mode and it is hard to feel the spirit of the approaching season when you have to turn on a fan to survive a baking cake.

I did take a step in anticipation of Thanksgiving and made a couple of pumpkin pies yesterday. Oh, not for mere consumption (one is already gone!) but to make sure I'm still an expert at preparing one . . . I am!

Reading cookbooks is a favorite hobby of mine. My husband picks up interesting ones from the Friends of the Library for me and some of them have become stand bys while others were quickly donated back! The Translyvanian Cookbook did not have one recipe that I could see myself trying or adapting. Besides, I have never seen bear paw on sale at my grocery store so no use trying to prepare that one! The latest 'find' was one called something about from my grandmother's kitchen. I approached it with an open mind but have to tell you, I think those grandmothers were abusive when it came to food! Either that or it didn't take much to impress their relatives.

Since the bear paw was unobtainable, I suppose we will go with turkey this Thanksgiving! We are having guests and that is something to look forward to as I think the wonderful smells of turkey cooking and the lingering scent of pies cooling on the counter should be shared.